All In The Family: Beliz Iristay and de la Torre Brothers Attack Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech

I’ve been planning this visit for a few months now, but one thing or another always came up and forced me to postpone the trip to the following weekend. And then the following one. As they say better late than never. Finally, this past weekend I had the opportunity to spend a couple hours at both the Riverside Art Museum and the nearby The Cheech (more formal name: The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry).

Judging by the foot traffic, I noticed The Cheech gets a lot more love than the RAM, but still, I can’t tell you how lucky I felt to have randomly enjoyed Beliz Iristay’s Tracing Acculturations exhibit (runs through April 30, 2023). The works of art showcased are the result of an ultra-unique combination you wouldn’t think of in a million years: Mexican x Turkish.

See what I mean?

Before looking at the art, the combination feels like eating an Iskander kebab taco or using baba ghanoush as salsa for your Mexican tortilla chips. What I’m trying to imply with those unappetizing culinary analogies is that you wouldn’t think that Turkish-Mexican artist Beliz Iristay could pull it off so beautifully, but get ready for a cultural roller coaster with plenty of surprises along the way. Needless to say, I am looking forward to more new pieces in Tracing Acculturations.

I’ll end this section with Iristay’s own words off one of the exhibit placards: “My idea of “home” has become more theoretical over the past few years, grounded in the idea of people, language, values and traditions. These bricks are an expression of all my home countries; created with Mexican soil, adorned with Turkish motifs, and eventually displayed in the United States.”

After spending a good 45 minutes slowly chewing on the RAM’s offerings, I took the brief stroll to The Cheech. As I approached, you could still feel the buzz of the new center, even though it opened six months ago. People were taking selfies in front of the building, others were walking out with brightly colored (and very pricey) “The Cheech” t-shirts. Without a doubt, the center will be a very special place in Riverside for years to come.

Upon stepping in, you’re welcomed by a massive—I’m talking floor to ceiling—glass piece by the brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre. I should digress for a second to mention that I learned later that Jamex de la Torre is married to Beliz Iristay. Hence the “All in the family” blurb in the title. Anyway, back to the de la Torre brothers: their exhibit took over the entire second floor of the center.

The de la Torre artwork gives a very psychedelic experience to the viewer—or maybe the artists were under the influence of Oaxacan-flavored shrooms while in their art studio? I’ll let you judge for yourself. I say this not only because the artwork literally moves with you as you pace in front, giving a somewhat 3D effect, except you aren’t wearing any special glasses, but because of the layers of symbolism found on each piece. I noticed these pieces sparked conversations-galore because I heard a number of interesting ones happening as I walked by—i.e. “…besides the giant corn-cob vagina in the middle, what do you think the four chickens in the corners represent? You go first….”

I am saddened to tell you readers that the final day to see this exhibit at The Cheech was this past Sunday (Jan. 22, 2023). Obviously, the de la Torre brothers are crazy-talented with all their glass work, so I’m pretty sure they will be making the rounds at hip museums around Cali & beyond.

As for the main floor of The Cheech, the showcased pieces were all from Mr. Marin’s personal collection. Amazing stuff, I tell you. The diverse perspectives of the showcased artists tell a wholly different story from the typical art museum experience. I know this for sure because—once again—of some of the conversations I heard as people stood in front of the artwork trying to interpret the individual pieces. Some funny (like above in the de la Torre exhibit), while others more serious.

I can’t stress this enough: if you live anywhere in SoCal—head over to Riverside this weekend! Those are six words people don’t typically say together—I’m just kidding, Riverside! You will enjoy the Riverside Art Museum and especially The Cheech. The place will soon become a mecca for Chicano art, if it isn’t already.